Inflatable observation tower and method for erecting an inflatable observation tower

Abstract

An inflatable tower system for establishing an elevated observation platform includes an elongated, inflatable cloth envelope having first and second ends. A blower is provided to introduce air into the cloth envelope at the first envelope end and an observation device, such as a video camera, is mounted on the envelope at the second envelope end. A tension line is attached to the envelope near the second envelope end and disposed in the inflation volume created by the envelope. The tension line exits the envelope near the envelope's first end and is attached to a tension control mechanism to allow the envelope to be inflated from a compact, spiral shape. With this compact shape, the deployment apparatus, including the deflated envelope, fits within and can be deployed from the bed of a pickup truck.

1 . A portable inflatable tower system for rapidly delivering an electronic device to a pre-selected location and lofting the electronic device at the location, said system comprising: 
 a vehicle;    an elongated inflatable envelope extending from a first envelope end to a second envelope end;    a means for attaching said first envelope end to said vehicle;    a means for inflating said envelope to elevate said second envelope end relative to said vehicle; and    an electronic device mounted on said envelope at said second envelope end.    
   
   
       2 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inflating means comprises a cold air blower attached to said vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said inflating means comprises an inverter electrically connected to said vehicle for powering said cold air blower.  
   
   
       4 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said electronic device comprises a video camera.  
   
   
       5 . A system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of guy wires, each guy wire having a first end attached to said envelope and a second end attached to said vehicle.  
   
   
       6 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said envelope surrounds an inflation volume and said system further comprises: 
 a tension line having a first end attached to said second envelope end, said tension line extending from said second envelope end, through said inflation volume to a second tension line end; and    a means attached to said vehicle for maintaining a pre-selected, nonzero tension on said tension line during an inflation of said envelope.    
   
   
       7 . A system as recited in  claim 6  wherein said maintaining means comprises a wench attached to said second end of said tension line.  
   
   
       8 . A system as recited in  claim 6  wherein said maintaining means comprises a braking pulley attached to said second end of said tension line.  
   
   
       9 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inflatable envelope has a length between said first envelope end and said second envelope end, with said length being greater than thirty feet, and wherein said vehicle is a pickup truck.  
   
   
       10 . A system as recited in  claim 9  wherein said pickup truck is formed with a truck bed surrounded by sidewalls and said attachment means comprises: 
 a stage having said inflatable envelope mounted thereon, said stage positionable in said bed of said truck; and    a plurality of load lock jacks for securing said stage to said sidewalls.    
   
   
       11 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said envelope is substantially shaped as a truncated cone when inflated.  
   
   
       12 . A method for erecting an inflatable tower to establish an elevated observation platform, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an elongated envelope having a first end and a second end, said envelope surrounding an inflation volume;    securing a first end of a tension line to said second envelope end, said tension line extending through said inflation volume and having a second end located outside said envelope;    mounting an observation device on said envelope at said second end;    configuring said envelope into a substantially spiral shape; and thereafter    introducing air into said envelope at said first envelope end while simultaneously maintaining a nonzero tension in said tension line to inflate said envelope and loft said electronic device.    
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said first envelope end is attached to a vehicle during said introducing step.  
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said vehicle is a pickup truck.  
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said spiral has a small radius end and a large radius end and said first envelope end is located at said small radius end after said configuring step.  
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said observation device is a video camera for producing an electronic video image and said method further comprises the step of establishing a communications link for transmitting said video image to a ground location.  
   
   
       17 . A method for rapidly delivering an electronic device to a pre-selected location and lofting the electronic device at the location, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an elongated envelope having a first end and a second end;    attaching said first end of said envelope to a vehicle;    mounting an electronic device onto said envelope at said second envelope end;    driving said vehicle to the pre-selected location; and    inflating said envelope to elevate said second envelope end relative to said vehicle and loft said electronic device.    
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said envelope surrounds an inflation volume and said method further comprises the steps of: 
 securing a first end of a tension line to said second envelope end, said tension line extending through said inflation volume and having a second end located outside said envelope;    configuring said envelope into a substantially spiral shape; and    maintaining a nonzero tension in said tension line during at least a portion of said inflation step.    
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said inflatable envelope has a length between said first envelope end and said second envelope end, with said length being greater than thirty feet, and wherein said vehicle is a pickup truck.  
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said pickup truck is formed with a truck bed surrounded by sidewalls and said attachment step comprises: 
 positioning a container in said bed of said truck for holding the inflatable envelope in a deflated state; and    securing said container to said sidewalls using a plurality of load lock jacks.